Cider And Real Ales Continue At The Fox And Hounds

Tuesday 20 July 2004

New Landlords At The Fox And Hounds

The Fox And Hounds public house at Deverill Road, Warminster, changed hands on 29th June 2004. The new landlords are Chris and Marion Pitcher, who are no strangers to the licensed trade.

Chris is originally from Bristol, and Marion hails from Bishop Sutton, but both have lived in Warminster for the last three years. They were ‘mine hosts’ at the Pelican, at Stapleford, in the Wylye Valley for 11 years, up until 2001.

In the intervening period since then Chris has ran a greeting cards franchise, called Card Connection, but has now sold this. He says the card business was based in Bournemouth, which meant a lot of travelling, hence the move back into the pub world closer to home.

He said “When we came to live in Warminster, we made the Fox and Hounds our ‘local’ and it’s through this we met the landlord Gary Searle and were able recently to take over the reins from him.”

Gary, who was originally from Frome, and a former pupil of Frome Grammar School, has stood down for health reasons. He had been at the Fox and Hounds for 18 and a half years, making him at the time, the longest serving landlord in Warminster. He, being rather sociable, guaranteed a friendly welcome at the pub, hence its long-established homely atmosphere.

Chris and Marion have no plans to change the ambience of the Fox Hounds, which has been a drinker’s pub on Boot Hill, serving both Warminster Common and the town, for over a century. It began life as a beer-house and is known to have been in existence in 1899.

There is, however, a need now to refurbish the premises, which include a snug lounge, a public bar, and a pool room (with two pool tables), but only so far as a lick of paint and a general sprucing up. They will not be altering the interior in any major way, preferring not to make it into a theme pub which many of the big companies have done recently with their properties. “That would be a big mistake,” says Chris.

Everything will remain exactly as before, including the traditional darts and pool teams which play in the local leagues. Also staying are the two bar staff: Sue Tymms and Heather McMillan, who will continue to serve the old familiar faces as well as new customers. Among the current regulars is the Mayor of Warminster, Martin Baker.

The Fox And Hounds is a free house, and is known for its cider-drinking clientele, whose favourite tipple is Rich’s cider from Somerset. This will continue, but Chris, who is a real ale drinker, is going to add a range of real ales, which the customers have also said they want. Bass was already available, and during their first week at the helm Chris and Marion introduced London Pride and Ringwood Best, and more real ales will be stocked in the near future.

When they were at the Pelican, the couple became famed for the delicious meals they provided but they have no plans to introduce food just yet at the Fox And Hounds. “It’s essentially a drinkers’ pub and we are going to keep it that way,” said Marion. “But the kitchen is due for refurbishment, so who knows, we might do some food for special occasions later on, but we’ll have to see.”

Chris and Marion have two children: Andrew, 18, who is currently working as a commis chef at Center Parcs, Longleat, prior to continuing his education at university; and Claire, 16, who has just finished her GCSEs and is going on to Bath University to do her A Levels.

Report by Danny Howell.

New hands. New landlords Marion and Chris Pitcher behind the bar in the snug lounge at the Fox and Hounds, Warminster. Photograph by Danny Howell.

(fox535)